Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-23
AMERICAN CITIZENS IN GERMANY


is, that on notice, German-American {"
citizens residing in Germany must leave
the Empire. At first blush this seems
harsh and tyrannical decree. But we are
assured by the German officials that the
order will not be enforced against those
who reside in cities and do not intermingle
in local political affairs OF incite German
subjects to disorder and discomfort. 1t is
eontended that it has become customary
for certain classes of Germans to come to
the United States and after being duly
naturalized return to Germany and there
saunt their new citizenship in the faces
of their old comrades, and boast of their
freedom from duty to the German Govern
ment, and that such conduct tends to
create discomfort, desertion and disorder.
The doctrine of our system is that the
American citizen, wherever he may be,
has the right to protection Of the flag.
Upon this theory we would be justified in
calling Germany to account for expulsion
of any of our people who had not rendered
themselves amenable to the criminal laws
Of the country. Yet it may we'll be
doubted if the Government of the United
States will seriously concern itself with
the cases of those who are expelled for in
citing the German people to disorder, or
inspiring them with discomfort.
1t was never contemplated in investing
the foreign born with American citizen
ship, that it should be used as a cloak and
shield for those who wish to reside abroad
permanently for the purpose of enabling
them to Extensively NEEDLE in the affairs
of nation with which We maintain terms
Of amity. Adapting the situation to our
own case, we will readily understand how
the German Government looks at the
matter. Let US suppose German subjects
residing in this country to be engaged in
the work of melting our own people to
riot and rebellion, or in stirring up strife
as the German Anarchists now are doing
in Illinois, Ohio and New York. The
disposition in all such cases is strong upon
order respecting and ..liberty-loving people
to expel these frebrands and conspirators.
Neither do we pause to consider that they
are under the protection of German citi-
senship.
Very true, this is republic, and we
guarantee to all the right to freely write,
print and speak, and hold our criminal
laws to be sufficient to punish all infrac-
tons of the order of society, while in Ger
many there is liberty only to the
extent to which a governing class
grants it to the governed. While
it is not likely that our Govern
ment viii permit any fragrant invasion of
the rights of its citizens in Germany, it is
unlikely that those who go abroad to re-
side and still claim American citizenship,
will receive much sympathy at home, if
expelled from foreign countries for con-
duct there deemed dangerous to the local
Government, no matter whether we be-
lieve that form Of government to be wise
or best conservative of human rights, or
not. This is not republic for the pur-
pose of sending out missionaries to convert
other peoples to our way of thinking
whether they like it or not, and according
to the individual ideas of the self-appoint-
ed political evangelists.
The very best use the American can
make of his sovereignty is to keep his resi-
aence in this country, and let the example
Of the nation, and the natural results of
free government do the preaching. We
will be bound to protect our citizens
abroad, but we may rise to the level of the
wisdom of recognizing by new and express
laws forfeiture of rights by abandonment
in the act of taking up permanent resi-
dence abroad. The order of the German
Government is just what is to be expected
from monarchy; it viii do our natural
lied citizens much good, since it will ex-
pose to them, in a new and strong light,
the radical difference between government
by the consent of the governed and gov
eminent under the iron hand of imperial
ism. Our people have enjoyed such won
derfully broad and precious privileges as
Americans, that formidable number of
the foreign-born have, if We are to Judge